Iguana Art Challenge

Draw and paint an Iguana In this project, you will sketch and paint an Iguana (or other reptile). You will consider your use of colour and experiment with mixedmedia techniques to describe the texture and patterns of its skin.

Please email a photo of your work to Mrs. Smith caroline.smith@bridge.kent.sch.uk

http://www.jackiemorris.co.uk/

https://axelscheffler.com/

2. Sketch Look on the internet and find a photograph to work from.

I have chosen to draw the head; you can draw the whole body if you wish.

Look very carefully at your image as you lightly (easier to rub out) sketch the shape of the iguana onto your paper.

You are aiming to draw the iguana in the centre and to fill your page. If you are running out of space on your paper, please do not squeeze your iguana to fit your paper – keep the proportions! Just stick an extra piece of paper onto the edge of your original piece and keep drawing.

Experiment with your media

An iguana has scales all over it’s body. Your aim is to describe the look and feel of the scales.

On a separate piece of paper, experiment with the art media that you have at home.

In school, we have used watercolour paint, colour pencils and wax crayons.

Also experiment with colour combinations – be imaginative!

2. Techniques If, like me, you do not have the patience to draw every single scale on the iguana’s body - don’t!

The skill is to give the impression of texture.

You are going to experiment with different ways to do this.

Here are some ideas.

Please try them, along with any ideas that you come up with yourself.

Individual scales.

Try it, but only draw a small number and keep them quite large.

Wax crayon rubbings or drawings and then painting over the top (wax resist).

Paint and draw patterns on top of paint.

I have used my colour imaginatively. I have not painted my iguana using it’s original colours – I have used predominately blues and oranges. They are complementary colours.

Complementary colours make each other stand out.

These are: • Blue and orange • Purple and yellow • Red and green

Complementary colours are opposite each other on the colour wheel.

Harmonious colours are next to each other on the colour wheel. For example - yellow, yellow-orange, orange and red.

Warm colours.

Cool colours.

When experimenting, try putting different combinations of colours together. Try mixing your own colours that are not available in your palette.

Use colour to make certain features stand out.

I have used green around the eye.

Why does it stand out?

How have I used complementary colours?

I have used 3 different blues from my palette.

Here I have placed different blues together, my intention was to separate areas of the drawing (showing folds of the skin). This can also be achieved by using different patterns.

4. Paint and decorate your iguana Time to start painting. Use your ideas from your media experiments. You can use just one of your techniques, or like mine, you can use many.

Well done!

I would love to see your work and put it on the school blog.

Please email a photo of your work to Mrs. Smith caroline.smith@bridge. kent.sch.uk